This is the order in which they appear in the content of the book. The songs are not numbered within the pages nor are the pages numbered. Numbers have been added for organizational purposes only. Round bracketed information indicates extra markings added to pieces while square brackets indicate words that were questionably illegible. These indicate dates as Frances Jackson, who signed and dated the front of the book December 31, 1928 married to become Frances Mary Montgomery in June of 1929 thus the initials FMM. These initials may but do not necessarily indicate original compositions.

An index of songs are numbered and listed in the inside cover of the book (pictured). These do not exactly match up with the actual order of the songs as displayed chronologically throughout this databasing.

Seven cent cotton forty sent meat
How in the world can a poor man eat
Pray for the sunshine cause it will rain
Things getting worse drivin all insane
Built a nice barn painted it brown
Lightening came along and burnt it down
No use talkin any man’s beat with
Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat
Seven cent cotton a carload of tax
The loads too heavy for our poor backs
We got a set of farmers we all know well
But there’s something wrong sure as hell
We all work hard we groan and sweat
Now we plum ruined and a blowed up set
No use talkin any mans beat with
Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat

No corn in the cob no chicks in the yard
No meat in the smokehouse no tubs full of lard
No cream in the pitcher no honey in the mug
No butter on the table and no lasses in the jug
Things to eat are always high
Everyone is selling no one will buy
We quit kickin the faults not our own
We just can’t reap where we have sown
Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat
keep gettin thinner cause we don’t eat
Tried to raise peas tried to raise beans
All we can raise is turnip greens
Folks always sick paw mus cough
Aint had no sugar since Ma dropped off
No use talkin any man’s beat with
Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat

Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat
How in the world can a poor man eat
Flour up high cotton down low
how in the world can we raise the dough
Our clothes worn our shoes run down
Old slouch had with a hole in the crown
Back nearly broken Fingers all wore
Cotton goin down to rise no more
Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat
Feels like a chain is on our feet
poor gettin poorer all around here
Kids coming regular every year
Plant corn was a wet year
Plant wheat and it turned a corn year
No use talkin any man’s beat with
Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat

Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat
Who in the devil has got a chance
We cant buy clothes we cant buy meat
Got too much cotton not enough to eat
Can’t help each other what shall we do
I can’t solve the problem so its up to you
Seven cent cotton and forty cent hose
Guess we will have to do with out our clothes
Seven cent cotton and forty cent meat
how in the world can a poor man eat
Mules in the barn and crops laid by
The [cubo] plum empty and the cows gone dry
Well waters low nearly out of sight
Can’t take a bath on a Saturday night
No use talkin any mans beat with
11 cent cotton and 40 c meat

One afternoon I thought I would go
To see the Great American show
Of which there was such a hallabou
Chicago Exhibition
I left a clerk to mind the store
A thing I had never done before
How long I would be I was not sure
But I thought it would take a week or more
So home i goes to my wife and I says
Business will take me away a few days
Tomorrow morning at six oclock
Im going to London (Landon?) to purchase stock
So call me at five for breakfast dear
And see my collars and shirts appear
Wrap them up so they will not crease
And pack them away in my new valise
When morning came it was pouring rain
I hustled around the cabin in vain
I tried to step on a passenger car
But I slipped and fell with an awful par
My new umbrella was knocked about
And turned completely inside out
But I wouldn’t a cared so much for that
If I hadn’t a tore my new silk hat
I also spoiled a suit of clothes
And tore the skin all of my nose
I fell in the mud on the broad of my back
My valise went flying across the truck
First it opened my collars and shirts
They went flying around the road in the dirt
When I got up I could hardly walk
But I managed to get down as far as the dock
The steamer was almost ready to go
In a minute or two the whistle blowed
I asked my ticket he answered No
Your not in a fit condition
Your a liar I roared as I jumped aboard
For Chicago Exhibition
And when I reached the famous fair
All kinds of people had gathered there
There was dutchmen with their sausage meat
And Italians playing out in the street
It was a dollar a piece for apple pies
They would do dam well for railraod ties
They had no fresh meat so they gave us a dish
Of slathery soup with turnip and fish
And after that great meal was done
I found that my watch and purse was gone
So up I jumped on the table quick
And I told the cashier that he would I thrash
If he didn’t immediately give me my cash
The table slipped and away I flew
And away went all the dishes too
A plate of soup my head went through
At Chicago Exhibition

Oh a long time you know Ive been waiting
For those words which you never did say
Now alas all my found hopes have vanished
For they tell me your going away
From this valley they say you are going
I shall miss your bright eyes and sweet smile
For you also take with you the sunshine
That has brightened my pathway the while

Then consider awhile ere you leve me
Do not hasten to bid me adieu
But remember the red river valley
And the maiden whose heart beats for you

Then remember the valley your leaving
How lonely and dreary it will be
and remember the heart you are grieving
And be true to your promise to me

When you go to your home by the ocean
May you never forget the sweet hours
That we spent in the red river valley
Nor the vows we exchanged mid its flowers

Oh there never could be such a longing
In the heart of a white maidens breast
As there is in this heart that is breaking
With love for the boy who came west

And the dark maidens prayer for her lover
To the spirit that rules o’er the world
Is that sunshine his pathway may cover
Leave his grief to the red river girl

Three years ago since Jack and Joe
Set sail across the foam
Each vowed his fortune he would make
Before returning home
In one short year Jack gained his wealth
And home he did set sail
And just before they shook hands to part
Poor Joe could only say

Give my love to Nellie Jack
And kiss her once for me
The sweetest girl in all this world
Im sure you’ll say is she
Treat her kindly Jack old pal
And tell her I am well
His parting words were don’t forget
To give my love to Nell

Two years have past and Joe at last
had gained enough for life
And he set sail across the sea
To make sweet Nell his wifebut when he reached his nature shore
A friend toWhen on his way he heard them say
That Jack and Nell were wed
He now regrets between sales and [frets]
That he had ever said

When on the street they chanced to meet
Said Joe you selfish elf
The next girl that I learn to love
I”ll kiss her for myself
But all is fair in love they say so since you’ve gone and wed
I’ll not be angry Jack old pal
Once again he said

What is this?

An Ethnomusicalogial transcription of folk song lyrics from an original 1928 source scribed by Frances Jackson of Wingham, Ontario, Canada. Transcription done by her great grand daughter, a Master of Arts candidate at York University in Toronto - Jacklin Falconer. December 2008.